Drapery hanger



W. F. BINSACK July 4, 1950 DRAPERY HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1946 W. F. BINSACK DRAPERY HANGER July 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22. 1946 INVENTOR. 'Z BZnsaa BYCZ 2 za s 1%792 9 Patented July 4, 1950 genus UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE 2,514,118 I I I DRAPERY HANGER William F. Binsack, Irondequoit, N. I I Application August 22, 1946, Serial No. 692,264

This invention relates to a drapery hanger for suspending a drapery at a window or door openin or other desired location. An object of the invention is the provision of a generally improved and more satisfactory hanger of this kind.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drapery hanger so designed and constructed that, with the use of this hanger, even an inexperienced person can produce a fine lookin and perfectly hanging pair of draperies in just a few minutes of time.

1 Another object is the provision of a drapery hanger which may be easily and quickly adjusted to a wider or a narrower position so that the window, doorway, etc., can be made to look wider or narrower, as desired.

Still another object is the provision of a drapery hanger so designed and constructed that it may be applied either to an existing curtain rod extending all the way across the window opening, doorway, etc., or to a bracket of the type used in supporting swinging or cantilever rods.

A further object is the provision of a drapery hanger which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured in various styles to hold draperies with various different styles of pleats or folds.

A still further object is the provision of a drapery hanger which eliminates the need for buckram or other stiffening material along the upper edge of the drapery, and yet which holds l the drapery securely in the desired shape and configuration.

A still further object is the provision of a drapery hanger so designed thatthe draperies may be applied to or removed from the hanger very quickly, and one in which the draperies,

when removed from the hanger, may be laundered or cleaned in flat form, free from all pleats, stiffening members, or other impediments to easy laundering.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of drapery supporting means in such form as to constitute a complete self-contained drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a drapery hanger in accordancewith one-embodiment of the present invention, showing a pair of draperies attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the drapery hanger removed from the curtain rod which supports it in Figs. 1 and 2, and with the draperies omitted;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the left-hand portion of the construction shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the lines 55 ofFig. 3 and Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is. an elevation similar toFig. 3, showing a modified form of construction;

, Fig. 7 is a plan of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with parts in vertical section;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation similar to a fragment of Figs. 3 and 6, illustrating another modified form of construction;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section illustrating a modifled way of holding the drapery in place on the hanger;

Fig. 11 is an edge view showing another construction for holding the drapery in place on the hanger;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 11, omitting the drapery;

Fig. 13 is a plan of an alternative construction of pleat form, with a drapery applied thereto;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 13, omitting the drapery;

Fig. 15 is a plansimilar to Fig. 13, showing another construction of pleat form;

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the pleat form shown in Fig. 15; A

Fig. 1'? is a plan similar to Figs. 13 and 15, showing still another construction of pleat form; and

Fig. 18 is a frontelevation of the pleat form shown in Fig. 17.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

This application is a continuation in part of the copending United States patent application of William F. Binsack, Serial No. 659,522, filed April 4, 1946, for Drapery 'I-Ianger.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention'shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a curtain rod 2| of any conventional kind, preferably of flattened or oval cross section, extends al1 the way across the top of the window 23 and is supported by conventional brackets 25 secured to the window moulding or trim 21. Detachably mounted on and supported from this curtain rod 2| is the drapery hanger of the present invention, comprising two main sections each designated by the numeral 3|, one at the right hand end of the curtain rod and the other at the left hand end thereof, each section 3| extending from its respective end part way toward, but not all the way to, the center line of the window. The two sections 3| are reverse duplicates of each other; that is, they are identical with each other except for one being what may be termed right-hand and the other being left-hand. :Hence a detailed description of one will sufiice for both.

Each section 3| is formed mainly "of-an elongated strip of plastic sheeting or moldedmaterial or, preferably, of sheet-metal. The strip has an appropriate width of, ay, from one to three inches, and an appropriate length dependin on the width of the drapery material to be hung therefrom. Through the major part of its length it is straight, butnear one end the. strip is curved or bent at a right angle, as indicated ati33. and the bent portion is preferably stiffened or reinforced by the formed rib or bead 35. Beyond the curve 33.is a short straight section 31 adapted to extend rearwardly toward the window trim '21, along the end of the curtain rod, while the main straight part of the strip'3'l extends along the front edge of the curtain rod 2|.

To hold the strip 3i detachably in place on the curtain rod, therear face of the strip is provided at intervals with spring clips 41 which, as best seen in Fig. 5,. arerivetted or otherwise secured to the strip 3| at their top edges, .and clip over the curtain rod, retainin frictionally thereon. A lug 43 extends laterally inwardlyfrom the lower edge of the strip 3| near its end which extends in toward the wall (that is, the end 3'!) .and underlies the curtain .rod so as to anchor thestrip to the curtain rod and prevent the strip from tilting forwardly under the influence of the weight or drag of the draperies. It is seen that this strip can be easily laced on and removed from the curtain rod without thenecessity of usingan tools.

This strip 3! forms the mounting or support for the pair ofdraperies, and the strip carries a plurality of form having suitable configurations for producingthedesired kind of pleats in the draperies. At suitable intervals. along each strip 3|, the desired forms are attached thereto and extend forwardly therefrom. The forms, made preferably of plastic material or sheet metal, each comprise a rear flange .5! lying against the front face of the strip.3,l andsecured thereto byrivets, solder, welding, or other suitable means. Extending forwardly from this securing flange 5.! and preferably formedintegrally therewithis the forwardly projectin web or flange 53, which constitutes the pleat form, .or which carries a pleat form of suitable configuration at the front edge thereof. As already mentioned, the pleat fo s may be of variousconfigurations. For example, if it is desired vtoforn'l. pleats .of cylindrical or tubular shape, aring or short tube 55. a shown in Figs. 1-5, may be attached to or preferably formed integrally with the web 53. Other shapes of pleat forms are shown in Figs. 13-18, as typical examples of shapes which may be used. If the drapery is to be pleated in parallel pleats projecting outwardly at right angles to the window, the portion 55 may be omitted and the web one of several different ways. construction, pin sockets 6| and 63 (Fig. 4) are 53 may be made somewhat longer, to constitute the form for the pleats, as in Figs. 13 and 14. If a French pleat is to be used, the web 53 may carry a plate 51, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, substantially parallel to the window. If a triangular pleat is to be used, the web 53 may carry a triangular form 59 as seen in Figs. 17 and 18. Other shapes of forms will obviously occur to those experienced in the drapery art. The forms may be made of plastic, sheet metal, or, in some cases, even of stifi wire.

The draperies may be held on the forms in any In the preferred bumped or stamped out of the web 53 so that one pin socket projects from each side thereof, and other pin sockets G5 are bumped 0r stamped so as to project from the outer face of the strip 31 at each end thereof, as seen in Fig. 3. The upper edge of the drapery D is gathered around thepleat forms and stretched along the strip 3i in the spaces between and beyond the pleat forms, and isf'held in position by common pins extending through the drapery and into the pin sockets 51,53, and 65, the heads of some of the pins being indicated at 61 in Fig. 1.

As an alternative for the pins, or, in some cases, as a supplement to the pins, the draperies may be stitched to the strip 3! and the pleat forms, by stitches passing through holes 69 provided in the forms themselves, .in the connecting webs 53, andat appropriate places in the strip 3 i. In afew. cases, where several thicknesses of drapery material are employed as in the construction shown in Fig. 13, it is difficult to get pins through the material and into the pin sockets, so that stitching the drapery is preferable in such cases.

In most cases, however, pins extending through the drapery material and into the pin sockets constitute the preferred mode of attachment, being easier and quicker than usin stitches, both in placing the draperies on the hanger, and in removing thedraperies therefrom when they are to be cleaned.

.Still another manner of attaching the drapery to the hanger is illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the layers of the drapery D on opposite sides of the web or flange 53 are retained frictionally thereon by a spring clip H of U-shaped or hairpinshaped form, which is applied somewhat in the manner of a clothespin and clamps the fabric of the drapery tightly to the web 53.

Still another mode of attachment is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, where, instead of using separate or loose pins, there are pins 13 attached per .manently to the member 15 near the bottom edge thereof and projecting upwardly as shown, the fabric of the drapery D being impaled on these pins. The member 15 in Figs. 11 and 12 may represent either the strip 31 or the webs 53, since such .pins 13 may be applied at any desired points.

In some instances, there is no preexisting curtain rod 2! across the top of the window or doorway where the drapery is to be hung, but there may be a bracket 8! (Figs. 6, '7, and 8) of conventional form for holding a drapery rod or curtain rod of swinging arm or crane type, sometimes called the cantileve type. The drapery hanger of the present invention may be used with and supported from a bracket of this type, without the necessity of installing a. complete curtain rod across the window or doorway opening. For example, an inverted U-shapcd piece 83 may be provided, one leg 85 of which extends downwardlythrough the usual openings in the bracket 8|. The other downwardly extending leg 81, located somewhat in front of the bracket 8|, has the hanger strip 3| laid against its front face and held thereto by a retainer or keeper 89 supported by screws 9| passing through it and into the leg 81, the keeper having rearwardly bent flanges or lugs 93 overlying the bottom edge of the strip 3| to hold the strip level and prevent cooking or tilting thereof.

By slightly loosening the screws 9|, the strip 3| may be slid longitudinally in one direction or the other, to vary the extent to which the draperies will project to one side or the other of the bracket 8|. Thus the window or the doorway opening may be made to look narrower, by sliding the hanger strips 3| to project as far as possible toward the center line of the window or doorway, or may be made to look wider by sliding the hanger strips outwardly away from the center line.

Another mode of connecting the hanger strips to permit the above-mentioned lateral adjustment, is shown in Fig. 9, wherein headed studs 95 are provided on the front face of the lug 81 0f the inverted U-shaped member (or on the front face of the bracket 8| itself, if desired) and the hanger strip or bar 3| is provided with bayonet slots 9'3 at various locations along the strip. Two of the slots 91 may be engaged with the two headed studs 95 as shown in Fig. 9, to hold the strip 3| in one position, or if it is desired to adjust it to another position (closer to or farther away from the center line of the window or door opening) the strip may be removed from the studs 95 and placed back on the studs in another position, using other bayonet slots.

The same lateral adjustment of the hanger may also be obtained when the hanger is spring clipped to a curtain rod, as described in connection with Figs. 1-5. It is noted that the spring clip 4| closest to the bend 33 at the end of the strip 3|, is nevertheless placed at some distance from this bend, so as to allow a substantial range of movement, sliding the strip 3| longitudinally along the curtain rod in an outward direction in order to make the window or door appear wider. It is true that such outward sliding would bring the lugs 43 away from their normal position underlying the curtain rod, but this is not serious, particularly if the draperies are of relatively lightweight material and if the spring clips 4| are strong and sturdy so as to prevent downward tilting of the hanger under the weight of the drapery.

The drapery hanger strips 3| in Figs. 6-9, inelusive, may be exactly the same as the strips 3| previously described in connection with the other figures, except that the spring clips 4| are preferably omitted, being unnecessary when this mode of support is used. That is, the strips 3| of Figs. 6-9 may carry pleat forms of any of the shapes or configurations desired (either circular, as illustrated in Figs. 1-8, or flat as in Figs. 13 and 14, or of French pleat form as in Figs. 15 and 16, or of triangular form as in Figs. 17 and 18, etc.) and may carry any of the drapery attaching means previously described, such as the pin sockets 6|, B3, and 65, the holes 69 for receiving stitching, or the permanently affixed pins 13 (Figs. 11 and 12) or may be used with spring clips H (Fig. 10) for holding the drapery in place.

It is apparent that drapery hangers in accordance with this invention may be mounted in any desired position or location. Horizontal mounting at the top of the window or door opening has been illustrated merely as a. convenient example and as the preferred form in which the drapery hanger will usually be mounted, but those skilled in the art will readily understand that the drapery hanger could be mounted in a vertical position if it is desired to form pleats extending in a horizontal direction, such as pleats in a valence extending across the top of the window or door opening. In some cases the hanger may be mounted at an oblique angle, say at 45, at the top corners of the window or door opening, serving simultaneously for the formation of vertical pleats extending down the draperies at the sides of the opening as well as horizontal pleats extending along a valence or other horizontal hanging across the top of the window or door opening.

With this hanger, since the pleat forms are built into the hanger and are made of proper size and shape according to the pleats desired, it is a very easy matter even for an inexperienced person to pin, sew, or otherwise attach the drapery fabric to the hanger in such a way as to make a most attractive drapery, with the pleats perfectly formed and perfectly spaced. No stiffening material is required, no cutting and sewing needed (other than, in a few instances, a few simple stitches to hold the fabric to the hanger) and it is not necessary to take particular pains in measuring the width of the material and calculating where the pleats should come, for the drapery hangers are made of such sizes as to exactly take various standard widths of drapery material. For example, if the user desires to use circular or cylindrical pleats of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and if he has a drapery hanger of the proper size for the proper standard width of fabric which he is using, he simply starts the material at one end of the strip 3| as shown in Fig. l, and continues toward the other end of the strip 3|, making each pleat around its form 55 as he comes to the form in the progress of his work, and the material will come out even with the other end of the strip 3| without any trimming or cutting. It can be readily seen that this is a tremendous improvement over the prior art wherein a great deal of experience and expertness is required to make an attractive set of draperies with well-formed and symmetrical pleats evenly spaced.

It is seen from the foregoing disclosure that the above-mentioned objects of the invention are admirably fulfilled. It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is given by way of illustrative example only, rather than by way of lim- :ltation, and that without departing from the invention, the details may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A hanger for pleated draperies and the like, comprising a substantially rigid strip adapted to extend across the rear face of a drapery transversely to the direction of the pleats therein, said strip being of sheet-like material having a substantially flat front face, a plurality of pleat forms rigidly attached to and projecting from the front face of said strip in fixed spaced relation to each other, said forms having approximately the cross sectional shape of the pleats to be formed in the drapery, means for securing the drapery to said strip and pleat forms with the drapery material extending around the perimeter of said pleat forms and substantially covering and concealing the pleat forms and the securing "means, and means for mounting said strip adjacent the'o'pening of a window, door, and the like.

2. Acons'truc'tion as described in claim 1, in which each of said pleat forms includes a web extending forwardly from the front face of said strip approximately perpendicular thereto, and

a wider portion forwardlyof and supported from said web.

3. A construction as described in claim 1, in which each of said pleat forms includes a web extending forwardly from the front face of said strip and in which each of said Webs has a pin socket formed therein for the reception of a pin passing through thedrapery material to secure the drapery material to said web.

4. A drapery'hanger including a substantially rigid strip of material extending substantially straight throughout the major portion of its length, a series of webs mounted on said strip 'infixed relation to each other and spaced lat- 'erally from each other in a direction lengthwise of said major portion'of said strip and extending forwardly approximately perpendicularly from said strip, a pleat form portion supported from and located approximately at the forward edge of each web, each pleat form having a substantial width in a'direction lengthwise of said major portion of-saidstrip, 'a 'pin socket adjacent each endof said strip, and a pin sooket'on each side of each web rearwardly of theassociated pleat form so that a drapery may be stretched along said strip and around the series of pleat forms and be held thereon by pins inserted in said pin sockets.

body of each pleat form being spaced forwardly from the front face of said strip, a series of supporting webs arranged approximately perpendicularto the front face of said strip, one extending rearwardly from the main body of each pleat form to said strip and being fixed to said strip to support the pleat-form in fixed relation to the strip, and a pinsocket on-each side of each supporting web.

WILLIAM F. BINSACK.

REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 843,008 Gerheiser Feb. 5, 1907 1,819,240 Harrison Aug.18, 1931 2,181,813 Kaufman Nov. 28, 1939 2,238,891 Cohen Apr. 22,1941 2,321,196 Graber June 8, 1943 2,334,809 Davis, Jr- Nov. 23, 1943 

